New Beginnings

Hello Friends! It is Monday and that brings a new week and many new beginnings for us. It offers us a new day and a new week to change what we are not happy with ourselves. It brings us a new chance to love those dear to us and to connect with those that are not near us that are dear to us. Set a goal this week to make one change in your life that will make someone else feel special.

Each day, I find that my grand doll and I are busy and in the home attempting to learn new things and I try to keep her occupied because she is into everything. I am not good at that but I enjoy the time I am with her, even if I am constantly cleaning up behind her. The weather has been very hot and humid here and so we have not been out much, but the weather has changed and so I made a decision that we are going to be out and about more now. Today, our plans will include a trip to town as I have some errands to run, a trip to a kids store that I hope to buy her some shoes at , and maybe even a trip to a new local coffee/ ice cream shop where she and I can have a treat. I also plan for her to play outside for a long while today.

I also have my plan set to contact with my best friend that lives in another state. I will call her today and I will also be mailing her a nice handmade card that just lets her know that I am thinking of her. How long has it been since you have received a card in the mail? Do you know a friend that would enjoy one? If so, make that your goal this week! New Beginnings could be a phone call to a long time friend that you have not talked to in awhile, a card or letter to a friend, a nice visit to someone, maybe just a simple smile and HI to the neighbor.

Little things matter and you might just be the only chance someone has at someone being nice to them today. Make the best effort that you can! The world needs some changes and this could be the perfect day to begin that change! #NewBeginnings

MidWeek Update

What a week it has been so far! The word of the week would be RAIN! It has rained every day for at least a week and I am so tired of it. Fortunately, today is to be dry and tomorrow is supposed to be fairly dry with just a chance and Friday is being predicted to be scattered showers. I may go camping!

Yes, I know it will be muddy but my daughter is off two days and it would give me a nice break from the grand doll. I love her but my daughter has been working a lot of hours and so I have had her quite a bit the last couple of weeks. Plus, they live with us so she never "goes home".

My week began with a very rainy Sunday which put me home all day catching up on some chores and doing my Bible study.  I have been reading Proverbs as I feel that it is such a beautiful book of the Bible as it is filled with many pieces of advice. I always find a verse that seems to teach a lesson.

Monday, the grand doll and I went to visit a friend. I planned to pick her up and we were going to a coffee shop. Coffee House 5. They have great coffee plus the proceeds go to five different community resources to help families. They are couseling services and aid for children. The coffee house is staffed by volunteers and I certainly appreciate what they are doing. They even have a worship service there on Sunday. The coffee is wonderful! We went, but it was raining the entire time and when we were ready to leave, the rain was simply coming down in buckets.

Our plans to go do some window shopping were quickly shattered as it continued to simply pour rain. I took her home and we planned another day soon with more coffee and some shopping. I will look forward to it. I will see her again on Saturday as we have our monthly get together with friends from high school.

On Monday afternoon, the rain ended. I was glad of that as I was to meet my cousin from Texas that I had not seen in probably 15-20 years. UGH! How did that much time go by? Anyway, she has 2 beautiful children and a great man in her life and it was such a pleasure to see them and visit. How I wish we lived closer. She also got to meet the grand doll for the first time! We had a very nice visit and she is due back next month for a short visit, which will bring her to my house.

Tuesday, it rained! Yes again! The morning was spent at my in-laws, which live next door. My youngest daughter has a room there and it needed to be organized and so I did it with the help of my oldest. I will throw things away and it drives my mother in law crazy!  The afternoon brought a relief from the rain and my husband and I went to price stand up freezers. We are getting ready to get 2 pigs and a cow from the butcher and so we certainly need more room.  They were a little more expensive than I had thought but we may still purchase one. I need to do some rearranging of furniture in the dining room a bit, which might get done today.

Today is to be DRY! That is a word that we have heard little of the last few weeks so I think we will take it. I hate to complain about the rain as I know there are many places that are in desperate need of it, but I am looking forward to a dry day.

I hope wherever you are, the middle of your week is going well. I wish each of you a very happy day and I will leave you with some photo. I am just randomly going to pick one.

Mom's Struggle

Moms, do you ever just think that this is the day you will break? Break from the stress of another toy to pick up, another mess on the floor, another load of laundry, another cry from the baby that has cried for days, another "Mom" outcry?

Well, I am here today to tell you that this too shall pass! Your worn down, tired, and really fretting from a lack of sleep and personal time to do anything  by yourself, but it will pass. God knows that you are struggling and He knows we, as humans, are weak, but He can provide the healing that we need.

Children are a true blessing, but I am well aware that there are days that those blessings seem to be the one thing that is standing in our way to feel human again. All moms get frustrated, all moms begin to feel that they can't go on, all moms feel less than perfect, but it is okay as it will pass and you will survive. Put your faith and trust in the Creator and take a moment to breath and know that it will get better.

I am a firm believer in a form of self help for the frustrated mom, 2 minutes to breath and know that you can make it through the day. When you feel that you are at your breaking point, place the child in his/her crib and walk away. Simply shut the door and go as far away as you can within your home. Find a clock and spend the first minute just breathing, Slow and steady breaths and concentrate on it. If baby is crying, it is okay as they are in a safe spot. In the next minute, simply pray.

Now, you might be saying I don't know how to pray or I am not like that, well a prayer can simply be words said aloud to the air. God is listening whether you want Him to or not. Just say words like " this day will be over and the baby will go to sleep sooner or later, so I know I can make it through" Believe in yourself whether you believe in God or not. Know that you can make it through.

I remember days of breaking down in tears because I did not know what else to do to possibly help my crying baby, but we made it through. I remember days of wanting to walk away and never look back because of the behavior that we were struggling with, wondering how all of this could be worth anything, but it is! Many moms can't hold their crying baby or clean up that one toy that has been on the floor a hundred times, Many moms can't walk in the room and see a sleeping baby that is peaceful after hours of crying but they wish they could.

Also, many babies want to be held and there is no one there to hold them. Many babies want to snuggle in their mom's arms, and can't because for some reason mom is not there. Just this week, a friend of mine, lost a friend during child birth. That precious baby will never get to be held by mom or snuggled by mom. That mom would love to have a day that she felt she could not make it through another temper tantrum. but she will never experience that and the baby will never experience the comfort that only a mom's love can bring. How sad!

Keep that in mind as you struggle through the day and know that God is here and I am here and you can make it another day!

Good Morning

Just a simple Good Morning to each of you in cyber world. Many times, I feel like we get our day started and never think about the fact that we should be thankful that we woke up and thankful for another day of life. The sun is rising and it's going to be another hot and humid day here, which has been the theme of summer this year, but I am still thankful for the day.

Whether it is hot or cold, sunny or rainy you woke up! You are alive to enjoy another day. Put your best into the day and make it memorable. Many people would be thankful to have another day with a loved one, so make sure you treat yours right.

Weekend GetAWay

This past weekend my husband took the grand doll and I on a road trip. Let me tell you, it was a road trip and that was about all I was able to see. He decided that he wanted to take the baby to The Smoky Mountains and he did, but we were literally there long enough to take a picture of her at the sign and that was about it.

We left home about 6 hours later than we intended too. I was irritated as he knew that I wanted to go early. He was determined that he was going to drive the full trip that night and I was determined that we were not. It is about a 6 hour drive, so it would have been midnight before we checked into a hotel, if we could have gotten a room. Plus, with the grand doll, I knew that if she slept in the car for 6 hours, she would be awake all night and I would get zero sleep.

We finally decided to drive about 3 1/2 hours and stop for the night. We were able to find a decent hotel that was perfect for sleeping. After a good night's sleep and a decent breakfast for doll and I, we were on the road again. Drove the rest of the way to our destination of Pigeon Forge, TN and I was ready to exit the car and enjoy the time there.

We had discussed that we wanted a hotel near town, but one that had a decent room and an indoor pool. Suddenly, my husband is pulling into any hotel near the strip and asking about rooms. He found that many were full for the weekend. Finally, he pulls into a Red Roof Inn and finds a room with a king bed and asks me to go in and register. As I walk in, I am asking him about if they serve breakfast and if they have a crib, but he does not know. I said "well, I would have liked to have looked on my phone before we got the room.". That instantly made him mad and he would not stay at all.

After we visited one shop, ate lunch and took her picture at the sign to the entrance of the Smoky Mountains, he was ready to leave and head home. I was absolutely astonished! I tried to explain that the room would have been fine but I truly did not want to sleep with the baby in our bed and that I just needed to know if I needed to find a grocery for breakfast for her. He did not listen!

After another 2 hours on the road, we finally pulled off the road and stayed in a nice Hampton Inn with an indoor pool. Within 30 minutes of checking in, we decided to swim. The pool was closed for maintenance! WHAT!!!!! I suddenly decided that I was done with the whole trip, as it certainly had not been relaxing. Upon asking how long it would be closed, we found out that someone had cut their foot and it might be closed the entire evening, which it was.

I found a few minutes to read my book and was able to get a good sleep before we headed home on Sunday!

Home Decor - organization

As I have spoke of many times, my home is small and there are too many living here. 5 people in a 3 bedroom home that is less than 1100 square feet in size is crowded. I try many ways to keep things organized and decorated nicely, but sometimes it seems to fail. I have been thinking of making some changes to many of the rooms and I have been looking for ways to organize more as well.

Last week, I went to a couple of antique stores and shops that sell primitive décor and other neat items with a friend. I really did not have much money to spend, but decided that I would purchase a few small items if I found anything that would work with the ideas I have. I am thankful to say that I found a few items and spend less than $20.

This sign is beside my sink in the kitchen. The colors work well with my kitchen and since we have horses, I try to include them in each room. My kitchen will be decorated with milk bottles and cans soon as I am paying honor to my grandfather, who was a milkman for many years. I still love this sign and it will stay by the sink.

I found these curtains and decided that I was going to buy them for the kitchen for now. I love the coffee theme and I think that these are such great material and fit good in my country home.

This is the window above my sink and I decided that since it is the only window in the kitchen, I could use them there for now. I will change them at some point, but I am enjoying them now.

Organizing takes time and it is currently, time that I truly don't have. My grand doll is with me for four days as my daughter takes a small trip with her sister. I decided that it would be small projects and was recently reminded by reading another blog that the junk drawer is an issue. Here are my before and after photos.

Before- a cluttered mess

After - more organized and I used two small snowmen loaf pans that someone gave me and I really had NO idea what to do with.

I was also able to organize the shelves under my kitchen island top today. I did not get photos of it, but believe me when I say that it looks better and is more functional now.

May God Bless Each Of You Today in whatever you choose to do. I need to play with the grand doll and pack for the weekend as my husband has a small trip planned for us.